The sunshine was just right that day. With the brisk spring breeze blowing, Luo Ao appeared before his family once more.
"Luo Ao, y-you really became a deity?" his father Bourne asked uncertainly. Even though this incredible thing had truly happened, Bourne still wondered whether he was living in a dream.
"Father, look!" Before his father Bourne, Luo Ao produced another clone with long, fiery-red hair as though performing a magic trick. His original body and clone stood side by side; anyone who did not know better would have thought they were twin brothers.
The clone looked exactly like Luo Ao's original body, except that he had long red hair that seemed to burn like flames. Even his brows were crimson, and he wore a robe as red as fire, giving off a distinctive, scorching aura.
"Th-this is?" His mother Mansha covered her little mouth in astonishment. How had there come to be two Luo Aos?
"Mother, this is my Divine Clone. I've already become a deity through the Elemental Laws of Fire," Luo Ao explained with a smile. Then, before his parents' eyes, he merged his Divine Clone back into his original body.
"A Divine Clone? How marvelous!" Bourne watched in amazement. Everything before him had shattered his understanding.
Although they both knew Emperor Darren was a living deity, they truly had not known that deities could have clones. Wasn't that the same as having a second life?
"This Divine Clone is a privilege only those who become deities independently can enjoy." Luo Ao smiled and explained the distinction between the two ways. Bourne and Mansha exchanged bewildered looks, but they now also felt pride and self-satisfaction from the bottom of their hearts.
Their child had actually become a great deity, a supreme existence standing shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Darren!
Meanwhile, Wind God Darren, who presided over the imperial capital, could no longer sit still. He flew toward Helen City at his greatest speed, a glimmer of hope for revenge rising in his heart once more.
"Hmm? Someone's here!" Luo Ao, who was sitting cross-legged in his secluded chamber, continuing to contemplate the Water Law, abruptly opened his eyes. Within the range of his divine sense, a Deity Level expert had arrived in Helen City.
"They should be here for me." Luo Ao thought for a moment and had already guessed who it was. Without disturbing anyone else in the Bourne residence, he swiftly flew straight toward the visitor.
With the flying speed of Deity Level experts and both heading toward each other, the two soon met.
The visitor was a lean man dressed in green robes. His face was refined and amiable, and he carried an exceptionally lively, airy aura. From his appearance, he was no older than an ordinary middle-aged man. Luo Ao knew, however, that this man had been a deity for at least several tens of thousands of years.
"Luo Ao pays his respects, Mr. Darren." Indeed, the visitor was none other than the founding emperor of the Darren Empire-Wind God Darren.
"You're too polite, Mr. Luo Ao. I never imagined that Helen City could produce an unparalleled genius like you. Just call me Darren." A hint of reminiscence seemed to cross Darren's face, as though he had once again recalled his beloved Helen.
Sadly, she was already gone. Even though he had now become a deity, it was already too late.
"Mr. Darren, is there something you need, coming to see me in such a hurry?" Luo Ao was somewhat curious. Had the man come merely to greet him?
"Luo Ao, you've only just become a deity, so you probably don't have a suitable Defensive Divine Artifact yet. I've carefully nurtured this Wind Shadow Armor for over ten thousand years. It can be considered a fine Divine Artifact." As Darren spoke, he took out an exquisite suit of azure armor. It was unmistakably a Defensive Divine Artifact.
"Mr. Darren, we've only just met. How could I accept your Divine Artifact? If you need help with something, tell me first." Luo Ao was not naive enough to believe he was so charming that another Deity Level expert would rush to offer him a Defensive Divine Artifact. Darren probably had a favor to ask of him.
Without finding out exactly what it was, Luo Ao naturally would not casually accept the Divine Artifact.
"To tell you the truth, I'd like to invite you to join me in killing someone." Seeing that Luo Ao remained unmoved, a pained twitch crossed Darren's face. Then he continued, telling his story.
"This was probably more than sixty thousand years ago. Back then, I was brimming with confidence and ambition. Helen and I..."
"Until that day, when Helen was targeted by people from the Dark Church..."
"At first, I knew nothing about it. Only later did I learn that Korno had sacrificed Helen's soul to the Darkness Sovereign of the Divine Plane..."
"My talent was fairly good, and later I broke through to the Deity Level. But Korno's means of preserving his life are truly troublesome. Although the high priest of the Church of the Fire God is on good terms with me, he is unwilling to interfere in my affairs with the Dark Church. That's why I came to you." Darren looked at Luo Ao pleadingly, his expression filled with grief.
Even after sixty thousand years, Darren had never forgotten Helen. Even if he could not save her, he would at least avenge her!
"I originally intended to risk going to the Divine Plane, cultivate until I was strong enough, and then return. But the high priest of the Church of the Fire God told me that while going from a Material Plane to a Divine Plane is easy, returning from a Divine Plane to a Material Plane is harder than ascending to heaven. So I could only remain on the Boya Continent and bury myself in cultivation..."
Unfortunately, his talent could not be considered particularly great, and the natural elements of the Material Plane were exceedingly sparse. Cultivation was fraught with difficulties and obstacles. Sixty thousand years had passed, and he was still a Lowgod.
"Korno is only a Lowgod too, and he cultivates the Darkness Law, so his ability in a head-on fight isn't strong. If we join forces, we can definitely kill him. When the time comes, I won't take his Divine Spark or any of his Divine Artifacts. All I want is his death!" To persuade Luo En to help, Darren was throwing everything on the line.
"Darren, Korno is indeed only a Lowgod, but he may not be the Dark Church's only deity." Moreover, churches could communicate with the Divine Plane. Who knew what other means they might possess?
"Mr. Luo Ao..." Seeing that Luo Ao was also unwilling to provoke the Dark Church, Darren immediately grew anxious.
He had already approached all the other deities on the continent. Unfortunately, the best reward he could offer was merely one or two Lowgod Artifacts.
Only a newly ascended expert like Luo Ao, who had been a deity for fewer than ten thousand years, might care about such things. How could anyone else be willing to risk joining him in an attack to kill Korno for a mere one or two Lowgod Artifacts?
"Give me ten years. Come find me again in ten years." Luo Ao did not rush to refuse. Although things like Lowgod Artifacts and Divine Sparks were not worth much in the Divine Plane, they were indeed scarce in a Material Plane. Taking this opportunity to hunt down a Divine Spark for his family was not out of the question.
But not now.
Now that he had become a deity in the fire element, his soul had undergone a transformation, greatly increasing the speed at which he deduced profound mysteries. He also had two bodies cultivating together. If he devoted his full effort to the most fundamental profound mystery of the Water Element, the Essence of Water, ten years would be enough for him to become a deity in the Water Element.
When that happened, the fusion of his two types of divine power would be no weaker than a God's divine power. The overlapping God's Domains of his two Lowgod Divine Sparks would not fall far short of a God's either. He would have no need to fear even a God-level expert.
"You agreed? Of course, you've only just become a deity. If your soul was split in two, you really do need time to recover from the damage to your divine soul. I'll hand this Wind Shadow Armor over to you in advance." Never expecting Luo Ao to agree to his request, Darren was overjoyed for a moment, smiling like a child.
The world knew him as the legendary Wind God Darren, a Deity Level expert who had founded a great empire, but who knew the anguish in his heart?
Helen! I will avenge you! The conviction to take revenge burned anew in Darren's heart. He even volunteered to remain with the Bourne Clan and stand guard for Luo Ao as he cultivated. Luo Ao merely smiled at this.